Tiruppur("Knitwear Capital of India") situated at 55 Kms east of Coimbatore is a small town in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu.  The Municipal area of the town is spread over 27.05 Sq.Kms and the population within the municipal limit as per 1991 census is 2.35 lakh.  The Noyyal River runs all across the 27 Sq. Km town, virtually dividing it into two halves.

Tiruppur in nearly 1500 exporting firms, which symbolises the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country. Tirupur has emerged as a town, which is synonymous with knitwear, and export culture and is rated as the most important potential future growth by the leading global markets

HISTORY OF HOSIERY INDUSTRY  ...
     The word Hosiery is probably derived from the French word Bonnet Eric “Hose”.  Hosiery of knitting principles stretch back to pre-historic times.  However, the cotton hosiery industry made its first appearance in India in 1893 in Calcutta and after theist world war more cotton, woolen, synthetic hosiery units came into existence in Bengal, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Kerala and also in Madras province. But till 1924 Tiruppur was not known for its knitting factories.  The first banian factory in Tiruppur was started in 1925.  With the advent of electricity in Tiruppur in 1931 more knitting and weaving factories came into existence.  Initially, all the knitting machines were imported from Germany, Japan and New York.  By 1942, there were 34 Hosiery factories in Tiruppur.

After the Second World War, thanks to financial assistance from banks, availability of relatively cheap labour, hosiery yarn and electric power more factories came into existence in Tirupur.  Today Tirupur has become an important and active cluster of knitwear industry in India.  Almost every household in Tirupur town undertakes some activity related to knitwear industry in residence-cum-factory setting. 

For over 30 year, until early 60s, the Hosiery Industry in Tirupur was producing mainly Grey and bleached banians.  It was in the late 60s that the industry slowly diversified towards manufacture of other inner garments.  The strength of hosiery industry in Tirupur in 1961 was 200 units.

In the ‘70s, export of small quantities of banians and other inner garments ware made from Tirupur.  Early in the ‘80s export of knitwear, mainly basic T-shirts were made in small quantities.  Export of other items of knitwear gained momentum from 1985 onwards. In the late ‘80s, knitwear industry diversified very quickly and took up manufacture and export of other outer garments viz. Cardigans, Jersey,ladies blouses, dresses and skirts, trousers, nightwear, sportswear etc., With the commendable interest shown by the entrepreneurs and with the support from the Government in the form of higher investment limit allowed for ancillary industrial undertakings including hosiery industry to avail the facilities earmarked for SSI units and liberalized industrial policy, the hosiery industry in Tirupur transformed itself into the knitwear capital of India in less than three decades.  Today the annual export earnings of Tirupur hosiery industry is of the order of Rs.3017.00 crores.The share of Tirupur in the annual value of knitwear exports from India is around 36%.

The composition of the knitwear industry in Tirupur is broadly classified as shown below with approximate number of units:

Besides knitwear units catering for exports and local markets, there are large number of other ancillary and supporting industrial units operating for manufacture of elastic tapes, zips, buttons, cartons, printing of labels, polythene bags and other packing materials.

Knitwear and ancillary industry in Tirupur together provide employment to nearly 2.5 lakh people.

Source: TEA